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Pond water becomes muddy or turbid for a variety of reasons. Often the cause is inclement weather, and the water typically clears in a few days when it is churned up by wind and rain. If your pond water turns brown and does not clear, there may be a problem in or around the pond that needs to be addressed. Long periods of brown water are typically caused by nuisance wildlife, soil erosion or excessive plant material in the water.

Wildlife

Fish and waterfowl are among the primary causes of mud-colored pond water. Nuisance fish species, such as goldfish, carp and bullhead, spawn and feed in shallow water, making it appear muddy if their numbers are high. Ducks and geese can cause similar problems and they often feed on bank vegetation, which increases erosion, worsening the problem.

Soil Erosion

Eroding soil along the banks of your pond can cause soil particles to enter the water. Over time, the soil particles muddy the water and it can be difficult to clear. Clay particles are particularly problematic. When these erode into the water, they repel each other instead of clumping and settling, giving the appearance of a soupy, chocolate-colored mixture.

Plants

The clarity of your pond water is affected by the amount of microscopic plants, such as phytoplankton and algae, and other organic materials it contains. Algal blooms caused by high phosphorous, nitrogen, or animal wastes, typically turn the water green, but as these decompose, the water may turn brown. The breakdown of organic materials, such as leaves falling from trees into the pond, can cause tea-colored water.

Amendments to Clear Turbidity

The addition of certain chemicals or organic material can clear your pond water by making suspended clay particles clump and settle as they should. Distributing loose, dry hay throughout the shallow areas of your pond removes suspended clay particles and clears your pond water, but adding too much organic material may deplete the oxygen levels in your pond as it decomposes. Agricultural gypsum or aluminum sulfate, or alum, can also help clear the water. Gypsum is chemically neutral, which means it will not cause pH problems, as alum may do.

Preventing Brown Water

Vegetative cover around the pond banks and a buffer zone of plants to eliminate foot traffic prevents soil erosion, while nuisance fish populations can be kept down by stocking of predatory fish, such as largemouth bass. Waterfowl are harder to keep out of your pond, but these birds won’t typically establish nests in areas where they can’t easily access the water, so establishing an 18- to 24-inch vertical bank may discourage them from frequenting your pond. Alternatively, erecting a poultry-wire fence that is at least 30 inches high around the water’s edge can help. Waterfowl may also be repelled by large objects such as flags, balloons or scarecrows, or by mechanical noise-making devices.

About the Author

Renee Miller began writing professionally in 2008, contributing to websites and the "Community Press" newspaper. She is co-founder of On Fiction Writing, a website for writers. Miller holds a diploma in social services from Clarke College in Belleville, Ontario.